How to Make CBD Rosin

  • CBD rosin is the concentrated compound from hemp that is extracted using the careful application of pressure and heat to the cured and dried parts of the hemp plant, usually the flowers.
  • With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD hemp flowers became legal for cultivation, sale or purchase, transport, possession, and use in all 50 states of the United States.
  • The rosin process is straightforward, and the materials needed are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. A rosin press could be the next versatile investment for CBD enthusiasts.
  • Hemp pressing provides CBD users an excellent opportunity to experience making their CBD rosin themselves. If one is not into the DIY rosin experience, CBD rosin is available on the market for about $45 per gram. Wholesale prices are $20 to $30 per gram.

Benefits of Hemp Pressing for CBD Rosin

Rosin has started a real revolution in the cannabis industry. The speed and ease in which one can get a pure concentrate have displaced other forms of cannabis extracts.

CBD consumers who prefer concentrates without any residual and human-made chemicals choose CBD rosin. CBD rosin offers a safe and healthy alternative involving no potentially-harmful extraction solvents. 

With only a few inexpensive materials and common sense, users can press their plant material to create a concentrated extract in the convenience of their own home. 

Straightforward Method

Pressing rosin is a natural method that does not require specialized skills or experience. Neither does the process entail complex procedures. 

The rosin process presses the raw plant material until it creates a potent concentrate. The process is similar to squeezing the oil out of an olive or coconut oil from coconut. 

To make CBD rosin, all that is needed is a quality rosin press, parchment paper, hemp plant material, and a collecting tool.

Solventless and Safe Extraction

Unlike traditional forms of extraction, such as BHO (butane hash oil) and CO2 (carbon dioxide) extraction methods, the production of rosin can be accomplished safely with simple tools at home.

The BHO extraction process involves dangerous solvents that are notorious for causing explosions and fires due to improper handling. CO2 extraction requires skillful operators and expensive equipment and specialized facilities. 

CBD rosin does not need any solvents to make. There is a little contradiction in the term “solventless,” however, as terpenes also act as solvents(1). 

Still, without external solvents, what remains after the extraction process are the natural hydrocarbon terpenes from the trichome glands. In hydrocarbon compounds, only the elements carbon and hydrogen are present.

External solvents can change the flavor and quality of the resulting product. They are not needed in the rosin process to break down the trichomes. 

Trichomes are resin glands of the cannabis plant. Inside those resin glands, the cannabis plant produces CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, CBN, and other active cannabinoids. These compounds are known to help provide relief to specific medical conditions.

Although not as researched as CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBG, CBC, and CBN also provide therapeutic benefits.

Studies have shown the antifungal and antimicrobial effects of CBC (cannabichromene) and CBG (cannabigerol)(2). 

Meanwhile, research has demonstrated that CBN (cannabinol) possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The study also showed that CBN might help with convulsions in epilepsy(3). 

Like cannabinoids THC and CBD, terpenes are secreted from the tiny hairs that cover the buds, called trichome glands. 

Many terpenes have been found to possess antifungal properties, as a 2018 study published in the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Journal indicated(4).

Trichomes are the shiny, sticky, mushroom-shaped crystals that act as a defense mechanism in nature, protecting the plant from herbivores. 

The fragrant oils from the terpenes repel these dangers and help the plant to survive its entire flowering cycle to enable it to reproduce.

Cost-Effective Materials

High-quality CBD rosin is usually made from hemp flowers. However, one can also use shake, kief, or hash. 

CBD hemp flowers are produced by the female cannabis Sativa plant when it reaches maturity. These flowers can contain a wide variety of cannabinoids, including CBD and CBG.

Flowering hemp plants also produce buds once the hemp flower is in full bloom. These buds contain the highest concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, and they grow tightly in clusters, known as a cola. 

Less expensive than CBD flowers are shake, trim, hash, and dry sift or kief. 

Shakes are “leftover crumbs,” as they consist of small pieces of hemp flowers that break off of large buds, typically as a result of regular handling.

CBD shake may also contain leftover leaves and stalks. Thus, CBD shake bags are always cheaper than CBD flowers and often contain a range of different strains that have been collected.

Note that the quality of the shake depends on the quality of the hemp. If the hemp flowers are of high-quality, the shake that falls off is also high-quality.

Trim is the unwanted plant matter cut away from the buds before curing. CBD hemp trim may include tiny flowers, shake, and other fine cuttings.

Most companies that sell CBD hemp trims collect them immediately following harvest and store them in climate-controlled rooms to preserve the terpenes, cannabinoids, and trichomes. 

Hash, also called hashish, is a resin derived from industrial hemp plants. Dry sift is a form of hash made by using screens with a fine mesh to hand-sift the dried flowers or trim. 

Also called kief or pollen, dry sift is also the term used to refer to the tiny, sticky crystals that cover the hemp flowers. The term also pertains to the resin glands that are rich in terpenes and cannabinoids that constitute cannabis. Once the trichomes are dried, cured, and collected, they are called kief.

Making use of these unwanted and usually discarded plant materials make CBD rosin appealing and practical for most people to make on their own.

How to Make CBD Rosin 

Rosin tech is a method of cannabis extraction based on three factors that determine the quality and yield of the final product: pressure, temperature, and time. Usually, a multi-ton press, rosin paper (or parchment paper), some filters, and a collecting tool are used.

Hemp is the ideal plant for extracting CBD because hemp and its terpenes are more resilient to heat and extended application times than cannabis. 

This characteristic of hemp is essential because, during the rosin process, hemp is pressed at higher temperatures for extended periods. Higher heat and extended application period produce more CBD rosin.

Making CBD rosin can be summarized as follows:

  1. Get a high-quality rosin press and understand how it works. Presses vary based on the pressure it applies, the pressure and temperature settings, and how it generates pressure.
  2. Buy CBD hemp flowers or other hemp plant materials from reliable brands or sources. Prepare sheets of parchment paper, filters or filter bags, and a collecting tool as well.
  3. Rosin is best produced in small batches. Place the plant material between sheets of rosin paper. 

One may also use a filter bag to put the starting material in before putting it between sheets of parchment paper. 

Filter bags or meshes for rosin are sometimes used to separate the plant material from the extract. A filter bag is made of nylon material that has holes measured in microns, ranging from  25 to 190 microns.

Parchment paper is not the only type of rosin press paper that individuals can use, and the choice depends on preference.

Some people prefer using PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) sheets because they tear less easily under pressure. Also, a PTFE sheet is transparent, making it an excellent way to display the finished product.

However, parchment paper is more affordable and more accessible to source locally. Although the PTFE can be reused, unlike parchment, it can be challenging to collect the rosin in some parts of the sheet.

  1. Engage the press with the plant material in the rosin paper used. Operate the rosin press following manufacturer’s instructions, applying the correct temperature and pressure. Usually, the rosin paper with the plant material is placed between the two plates of the rosin press.
  2. Collect the extract from the compacted material. The finished product, rosin, is translucent with a sappy, sticky consistency.

Hemp-Pressing Using a Rosin Press

A rosin press can be a versatile investment that provides the user with the opportunity to create an array of different products. CBD rosin pressing could be a worthwhile activity that one could do at home. 

Pressing rosin is a normal process that does not necessitate the use of solvents. The materials needed are a prime-grade rosin press, rosin paper, hemp plant material, and a collecting device to make CBD rosin that contains no chemicals.

Given that there are several types of rosin press, there are different ways to maximize the performance of each type. Typically, a rosin press comprises two heated plates, which heat and apply pressure to the starting material. 

A significant difference between the presses is the amount of pressure it applies and the way it generates pressure.

Manual presses primarily crush and compress the starting plant material using either a screw or a clamp system. Pneumatic presses use air or gas, while hydraulic presses use a liquid that moves under pressure. 

An electric press provides precise compaction with the use of a motor. This type of press is a high-speed, low-maintenance alternative to hydraulic presses.

Rosin presses that are practical for home use have prices ranging from $200 to $800. Some advanced models even come with pre-programmed temperature and pressure settings.

Buy High-Quality CBD Hemp Flowers

CBD hemp flowers are the flowers on the female hemp plant. These flowers fall under the same 0.3% THC regulations, like that of other CBD products.  

With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD hemp flowers became legal for cultivation, sale or purchase, transport, possession, and use in all 50 states of the United States.

However, hemp flowers do not contain the same amount of CBD. The exact percentage depends on the strain of each cannabis plant. 

High-CBD hemp flowers are usually extracted from specially-bred plants carefully cultivated to produce big buds. Careful breeding also ensures that the strain has a high-CBD, low-THC profile for compliance reasons.

Some great cultivators of these flowers include Blue Forest Farms, a company that produces a cherry wine hemp flower. This hemp flower may be comparable to a typical Indica or Sativa in appearance but contains 12-15% CBD and less than 0.3% THC as the law dictates.

Tweedle Farms, another CBD hemp flower cultivator, takes pride in their farm-to-table, organically grown, high CBD, terpene-rich hemp flower. One can purchase from them pre-rolls or flowers, like Lifter, Suver Haze, and Sapphire.

Apply the Correct Temperatures 

Temperature is a determining factor that affects the quality and overall yield of CBD rosin. The perfect temperature is heavily dependent on the chemical properties of the plant material used. 

A terpene-rich flower, dry sift, or hash needs a lower temperature because the terpenes squeezed out of these raw materials during the initial press act as a natural solvent. 

At low temperatures (150 to 250 °F), the yield is low. However, the terpene content is high, which makes the flavor of the rosin full-bodied. The end product is stable, with some people comparing it to butter or honey. 

At high temperatures (250 to 330 °F), the yield is likely to be high, but the terpene content is low, and the flavor is subtle. The end product is light in consistency, like that of a sap.

The application of heat also transforms non-psychoactive THCA into THC. THCA (THC acid) is the acidic precursor to THC, the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis.

Maximizing CBD Rosin Yield

Several factors can affect CBD rosin production, including whether or not the strain of hemp contains large quantities of CBD. 

Hemp typically yields less rosin than cannabis, as some rosin enthusiasts noted. A reasonable expectation of yield, under the best possible circumstances, would be 10% to 18% by weight for hemp. 

Increased temperature and extended applied time would yield an increased quantity of CBD rosin. To obtain the desired quality, aim for the desired yield, and then adjust the settings of the rosin press. 

Start by pressing with a goal of 15% by weight for hemp rosin. Once successful in attaining this yield, decrease the time of the press to modify the quality of the CBD extract.

A little practice with operating the rosin press would make all this hemp-pressing experience worthwhile in the end.

The quality of the press, the temperature, pressure, and time duration all have an impact on the yield.

Unfortunately, there are no specific settings available to improve yield instantly. Different strains, or even the same strains grown by different cultivators in various locations, can react in varied ways to the same settings. 

Each type of plant material requires different time and temperature settings to extract the most from it. Some experimentation with a bit of trial and error is part of the process.

To produce the best CBD rosin yield, consider the following suggestions.

  1. Starting times and temperatures 

For hemp flowers, some rosin pressing enthusiasts suggest starting with 220° F for about 40 seconds. For kief or hash, the recommended temperature is between 170° and 190° F, pressing for around 65 seconds.

Meanwhile, other manufacturers recommend setting the temperature somewhere between 190°F to 220°F and pressing for 45 seconds to 3 minutes. This method frequently produces a very oily or shatter-like consistency that is high in terpene content if pressed at 220°F or below.

Ultimately, the ideal starting time and temperature would vary, depending on the quality of material used, including its humidity content, strain, quantity, and expected yield.

  1. Quantity pressed 

Use 1 to 1.5 grams per press, or as per manufacturer’s guidelines. The key to achieving outstanding CBD rosin quality is making it in small batches. The plant material in small batches gets exposed to heat for only a short time.

  1. Press type – Use a type of press that allows one to carefully observe the process and make some modifications as required to obtain the best yield.

Note that too much pressure can force unwanted plant materials into the rosin, so adjust the pressure carefully.

Once the rosin press is up to optimal pressure, oil initially seeps out fast. After a few minutes, this flow of oil begins to slow. At this point, gradually increase the pressure for about 5 to 10 psi at a time. 

A little experimentation is needed at first. Every pressure increment pushes out a little extra rosin from the material. Repeat this process to extract the maximum yield.

Be careful not to apply too much pressure to prevent a “blow out,” especially when using a filter bag.

A blowout happens when a filter bag ruptures during the pressing process. When this happens, unwanted plant materials get mixed in with the rosin, ruining the end product. 

Blowouts are mostly the result of poor technique. Beginners at hemp pressing should be patient as they try to master the techniques that are best applied with their rosin press and chosen plant material. 

Traveling with CBD Rosin

When traveling with CBD rosin, it is essential to remember that CBD products that have 0.3% or less delta 9 THC are allowed to ship across state borders. 

However, hemp distribution still has its limitations or restrictions. Although the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still has authority on monitoring control over CBD’s inclusion in food products. 

The FDA said that it would continue in their pursuit of companies that market CBD-infused edibles across state lines.

CBD rosin is not included in this law on regulatory control, however. After extracting the oil from the hemp flower, the oil becomes more concentrated. In this form, its potency could be beyond the acceptable 0.3% of THC. 

Keep in mind that while one can legally consume CBD rosin inside the home, one needs to keep it within state lines to avoid getting into trouble with the law.

Interstate transport and sales of legal CBD oil are allowed if it satisfies the guidelines concerning delta 9 THC content. 

Despite that, there is still a misunderstanding over marijuana and hemp flowers that has gotten people pulled over by mistake. There were also other run-ins with the law over CBD and hemp. 

FAQs

What is rosin winterization?

Rosin winterization is the method of using food-grade alcohol to isolate the fats, waxes, and lipids from concentrates. Winterization is a cost-effective way to remove impurities left behind in the rosin.

Removing the contaminants in the rosin keeps it looking fresh for longer and also increases THC content. 

Winterized rosin can be used as an added ingredient to edibles, vapes, and even dabbing. Remember to remove any alcohol before smoking or vaping anything that is winterized.

How are resin and live resin different?

Resin, often called sap, describes the soft and sticky trichomes that appear on the flowers and sugar leaves of mature female cannabis plants.

Sugar leaves are the tiny leaves that grow out of the cannabis buds during the flowering stage. They are called sugar leaves because the trichomes that are covering these leaves look like a dusting of white sugar.

Cannabinoids and terpenes are all contained in the resin. Extractions of resin offer a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. 

Terpenes are incredibly volatile molecules. Thus, any resin extraction process involving heat can destroy some of the terpenes, decreasing the medical efficacy of the product.

Resin also refers to the brown or black tar accumulated in pipes and bongs after many uses, especially if one is smoking high-potency herbs. 

Meanwhile, live resin is the latest form of cannabis concentrate to emerge in legal states like California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. 

Live resin requires expensive, elaborate laboratory equipment and trained technicians, so it is not something that one can do at home. For now, this process is best entrusted to the professionals.

This unique form of concentrate involves the cryogenic freezing of a freshly-harvested plant at temperatures below -292 degrees F (-180 C). This process makes the live resin the most expensive form of cannabis concentrate. 

As this process involves the entire plant, including the flowers, leaves, branches, and stalk, it is also referred to as a full-plant or full-spectrum.

Cannabis enthusiasts, wanting to get the most terpenes and their medical benefits, often prefer the live resin. With no heat involved, the process preserves the terpene profile of the plant. 

Terpenes are responsible for the pervasive smell of cannabis. With the terpenes intact, the live resin has a much more full-bodied aroma. More importantly, more terpenes mean increased potency from a freshly harvested plant.

Is CBD oil the same as hemp oil?

CBD oil is extracted from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the cannabis plant, which could either be marijuana or hemp. The extraction process requires solvents, like CO2 or ethanol. 

On the other hand, hemp oil is extracted by cold-pressing the hemp plant.

Where the CBD is extracted from determines the concentration of THC it contains. A hemp plant contains less than 0.3 percent THC, while marijuana contains high doses or concentrations of THC. 

THC is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives the euphoric “high” sensation. Many people use CBD oil because it does not contain (or only contains trace amounts of) THC.

Is hemp oil the same as hemp seed oil?

Hemp oil comes from the hemp plant, and the term can refer to a full spectrum of oil from the Cannabis sativa plant or hemp seed oil.

However, strictly speaking, the hemp seed oil is only from the seeds of the hemp plant. The hemp seed oil extraction is comparable to how olive oil is extracted from olives or how coconut oil is extracted from coconuts. 

Note that CBD can only come from the stalks, stems, and flowers but not the seeds of the cannabis Sativa plant, either hemp or marijuana.

Any product made from hemp seed oil (also called cannabis Sativa seed oil) does not contain CBD. 

However, hemp seed has excellent content of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, minerals, and amino acids(5). 

Hemp seed oil is also useful for its anti-inflammatory effects and the potential to influence heart disease beneficially. 

The only downside of the hemp seed oil is that it does not contain any cannabinoids, terpenes, or other medicinal compounds. These compounds are found only in the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the cannabis plant. 

Despite the many benefits that the hemp seed oil offers, it does not provide any of the benefits associated with whole-plant hemp extracts.

Other Types of CBD Concentrates

Hemp flowers have an increased potency of CBD than most other hemp plants. Hemp flowers are used to make hemp oil, isolate, and other CBD concentrates. 

CBD products on the market are available in different forms, such as tincture, gummies, lotion, creams, gelcaps, and CBD-infused edibles. These products are usually hemp-derived, using different parts of the hemp plant.

There are also CBD concentrates, which are hemp products with high concentrations of CBD. Concentrates can contain CBD isolates, broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum CBD oil. 

Concentrates vary in their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, depending on the source of extract. The types of CBD concentrates also vary based on the method of extraction used to create the end product. 

When discussing concentrates, the conversation is mostly about dabbing or vaping and getting instantaneous effects. 

One can also smoke the CBD hemp flower as is. However, for many people, tinctures are the preferred method of cannabis consumption, including cream, pills, gummies, and dissolvable strips.

CBD concentrates are intended to be combined with a cannabis flower and smoked. They may also be dabbed alone using a traditional dab rig (also called a wax rig or concentrate pipe) or vape pen.

Fast delivery of high doses makes concentrates stand out among other CBD products. However, CBD concentrates also deserve appreciation for their versatility. 

Some of the common types of CBD concentrates are crumble, shatter, wax, budder, terpsolate, and rosin. Most of the terms are almost a physical description of the concentrates. 

The crumble is a moist concentrate that crumbles into pieces. The shatter is a translucent cannabis concentrate that breaks and shatters like glass.

CBD shatter is one of the purest forms of CBD oil that offers the most value for money. It is entirely free of THC, which makes CBD shatter the perfect product to use by anyone whose career requires them to pass scheduled or random drug tests. 

Note that some CBD oil products contain little amounts of THC that could trigger a positive result on a drug test. 

CBD shatter is sold in the form of small white rocks. This delicate compound is created using a laborious filtration process through BHO (butane hash oil) extraction method.

CBD wax has a wax-like composure and is yellow or brown in color. The CBD budder or badder is a soft, solid concentrate with a consistency similar to butter.

Some people describe CBD budder as a wax that looks like creamy butter. This consistency is due to how CBD budder is made.

Once CBD is extracted from the plant material, the molecules in the oil are agitated, purging cannabinoids in the process. As the purging ends, the oil is whipped, creating the creamy consistency.

Terpsolate is created by infusing terpenes into CBD isolate powder, creating anything from a powder to a viscous mixture.

Meanwhile, CBD rosin dabs are cannabis extracts derived from non-psychoactive hemp. Hemp plants that produce high levels of CBD can yield flowers that are almost the same as that of some marijuana plants. 

Although the uninitiated may find a striking resemblance in the size and shape of the hemp plant and marijuana plant, ultimately, the only difference between hemp and marijuana is the high-THC, low-CBD content in marijuana and the high-CBD, low-THC content in hemp.

CBD dabs are often prepared at home by placing marijuana trimmings into a glass or metal pipe and subjecting them to heat using butane to extract the THC from the plant. 

This process yields a dense, gluey matter that is similar to a solidified candle wax. Users smoke this substance, also referred to as butane hash oil (BHO), using a bong or pipe. 

Smoking it this way gives a tremendously potent high. Because of this high and the possible danger of extracting it, exercise caution when creating and using dabs.

Conclusion

Making CBD rosin can be a worthwhile investment and an excellent learning experience for CBD enthusiasts. The CBD rosin pressing process is quite straightforward and versatile. 

However, essential factors must not be overlooked, such as choosing high-quality starting plant materials, getting a first-rate rosin press, and spending time to master the techniques to get the desired yield.

CBD concentrates, like the CBD rosin, are an excellent approach to obtaining high doses of cannabinoids and getting it absorbed into the system quickly. Studies have shown that cannabinoids can help alleviate symptoms of some ailments or disease. 

Still, it is essential to consult with a doctor experienced in cannabis use for advice and guidance before using CBD rosin as part of a therapy for medical conditions.


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  2. Eisohly HN, Turner CE, Clark AM, Eisohly MA. Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of certain cannabichromene and cannabigerol related compounds. J Pharm Sci. 1982 Dec; 71(12):1319-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.2600711204.
  3. Turner CE, Elsohly MA, Boeren EG. Constituents of Cannabis sativa L. XVII. A review of the natural constituents. J Nat Prod. 1980 Mar-Apr; 43(2):169-234; Evans FJ. Cannabinoids: the separation of central from peripheral effects on a structural basis. Planta Med. 1991 Oct; 57(7):S60-7.
  4. Gallily R, Yekhtin Z, Hanuš LO. The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Terpenoids from Cannabis. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2018;3(1):282‐290. Published 2018 Dec 26. DOI:10.1089/can.2018.0014.
  5. Rodriguez-Leyva D, Pierce GN. The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010;7:32. Published 2010 Apr 21. DOI:10.1186/1743-7075-7-32. 
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